Pili

Pili
Pili tree
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Canarium
Species:
C. ovatum
Binomial name
Canarium ovatum

The pili (Central Bikol and Filipino: pili, /piːˈliː/ pee-LEE;) (Canarium ovatum) is a tropical tree from the torchwood family. It is native to the Philippines.[2] The tree has nuts that have a lot of fat in them.[3]

The plant

Shelled pili nuts

The pili tree is about 20 m (66 ft) tall with resin strong wood. It can live through strong winds. Insects pollinate the plant. Its flowers bloom much of the time. The fruits ripen after a while. The ovary has three locules, each with two ovules; most of the time only one ovule develops.[4]

The C. ovatum fruit is a stone fruit, weighing 15.7 to 45.7 g (0.035 to 0.101 lb). The skin (exocarp) is smooth, thin, shiny, and darkens when the fruit ripens; the pulp (mesocarp) is fibrous, fleshy, and yellow in color. The nuts are 8% carbohydrate, 11.5 to 13.9% protein, and 70% fat.[3] Kernels from some trees may be bitter, fibrous or have a weird smell.

References

  1. ↑ Energy Development Corporation (EDC) (2020). "Canarium ovatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.)
  2. ↑ "Canarium ovatum Engl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kukuda Y, Jahaniaval F, Umali J (2000). "Characterization of Pili Nut (Canarium ovatum) Oil: Fatty Acid and Triacylglycerol Composition and Physicochemical Properties" (PDF). Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 77 (9): 991–996. doi:10.1007/s11746-000-0156-8. S2CID 83628873.
  4. ↑ Chandler, W. H. 1958. Evergreen orchards. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia.[page needed]